STEAMBOAT MOUNTAIN RESEARCH NATURAL AREA Supplement No

Home , Lemei Rock, Luetkea, Sleeping Beauty Peak, Tsuga mertensiana

STEAMBOAT MOUNTAIN RESEARCH NATURAL AREA Supplement No. 20-U Sarah E. Greene and Robert E. Frenkel?1

The Research Natural Area described in this Mountain Research Natural Area supplement is administered by the Forest Serv- is part of a Federal system of such tracts ice, an agency of the U.S. Department of established for research and educational pur- Agriculture. Forest Service Research Natural poses. Each Research Natural Area constitutes Areas are located within Ranger Districts, which a site where natural features are preserved for are administrative subdivisions of National scientific purposes and natural processes are Forests. Normal management and protective allowed to dominate. Their main purposes are activities are the responsibility of District to provide: Rangers and Forest Supervisors. Scientific and 1.Baseline areas against which effects of human educational uses of these areas, however, are the activities can be measured; responsibility of the research branch of the 2.Sites for study of natural processes in un- Forest Service. Scientists interested in using disturbed ecosystems; and areas in Oregon and Washington should contact 3. Gene pool preserves for all types of organisms, the Director of the Pacific Northwest Research especially rare and endangered types. Station (319 S.W. Pine Street, Portland, Oregon The Federal system is outlined in "A Directory 97204) and outline the activities planned. If ex- of the Research Natural Areas on Federal Lands tensive use of one or more Forest Service of the United States of America.."-1 Research Natural Areas is planned, a Of the 96 Federal Research Natural Areas cooperative agreement between the scientist and established in Oregon and Washington, 45 are the Forest Service may be necessary. The Forest described in "Federal Research Natural Areas Supervisor and the District Ranger administer- in Oregon and Washington: A Guidebook for ing the affected Research Natural Area will be Scientists and Educators" (see footnote 1). Sup- informed by the Research Station Director of plements to the guidebook describe Research mutually agreed on activities. When initiating Natural Areas added to the system. work, a scientist should visit the administering The guiding principle in management of Ranger Station to explain the nature, purpose, Research Natural Areas is to prevent unnatural and duration of planned studies. Permission for encroachments or activities that directly or brief visits to observe Research Natural Areas indirectly modify ecological processes. Logging can be obtained from the District Ranger. and uncontrolled grazing are not allowed, for example, nor is public use that might impair -Supplement No. 20 to "Federal Research Natural Areas scientific or educational values. Management in Oregon and Washington: A Guidebook for Scientists and practices necessary for maintenance of Educators," by Jerry F. Franklin, Frederick C. Hall, C.T. ecosystems may be allowed. Dyrness, and Chris Maser. (Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, 1972). -2/Sarah E. Greene is research forester, Forestry Sciences /Federal Committee on Ecological Reserves. A directory of Laboratory, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Corvallis, the Research Natural Areas on Federal lands of the United Oregon. Robert E. Frenkel is professor of geography, States of America. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Geography Department, Oregon State University, Corvallis. Agriculture, Forest Service; 1977.

1986 Federal Research Natural Areas provide a unique system of publicly owned and protected examples of undisturbed ecosystems where scientists can conduct research with minimal i n- terference and reasonable assurance that in- vestments in long-term studies will not be lost to logging, land development, or similar activities. In return, a scientist wishing to use a Research Natural Area is obligated to: Obtain permission from the appropriate administering agency before using the area;--1/ Abide by the administering agencys regulations governing use, including specific limitations on the type of research, sampling methods, and other procedures; and 3.Inform the administering agency on progress of the research, published results, and disposi- tion of collected materials. The purpose of these limitations is to: 1.Insure that the scientific and educational values of the tract are not impaired; Accumulate a documented body of knowledge about the tract; and Avoid conflict between studies. Research must be essentially nondestructive; destructive analysis of vegetation is generally not allowed, nor are studies requiring extensive modification of the forest floor or extensive ex- cavation of soil. Collection of plant and animal specimens should be restricted to the minimum necessary to provide voucher specimens and other research needs. Under no circumstances may collecting significantly reduce population levels of species. Collecting must also be carried out in accordance with applicable State and Federal agency regulations. Within these broad guidelines, appropriate uses of Research Natural Areas are determined by the administering agency.

Six agencies cooperate in this program in the Pacific Northwest: U.S. Department of Agriculture—Forest Service; U.S. Department of the Interior—Bureau of Land Manage. ment, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service; U.S.Department of Energy; and U.S. Department of Defense.

2 STEAMBOAT MOUNTAIN RESEARCH NATURAL AREA

Subalpine fir and Pacific silver fir-mountain hemlock forest communities with wet meadows, a small lake, and rock outcrops and talus.

The Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Steamboat Mountain RNA is in the Mount Area (RNA) was established in August 1973 as Adams Ranger District, Gifford Pinchot an example of subalpine forest communities in National Forest, in Skamania County, the Cascade Range of southern Washington. The Washington, 29 km northwest of Trout Lake 551-ha RNA also includes three major wet (fig. 1). It is located primarily in sections 30 and meadows or montane mires, a small lake, and 31, T. 8 N., R. 9 E., and sections 35 and 36, T. areas of rock outcrops and talus. Steamboat 8 N., R. 8 E.; small portions are in section 25, Mountain RNA includes excellent examples of T. 8 N., R. 8 E., section 1, T. 7 N., R. 8 E., and Abies lasiocarpa forests of the Cascade Range, section 6, T. 7 N., R. 9 E., Willamette Meridian including pure stands on midslopes and upper (lat. 46°8 N.; long. 121°44 W.). It is bounded slopes of southern and western exposure, old- by Forest Service roads except along the north growth Abies amabilis-Tsuga mertensiana on and northeast margins. north slopes, and a mixture, particularly on lower slopes and flats.1/

Scientific and common names of plant species are listed in table 1.

Gifford Pinchot

• RNA Mount St. Helens ■ out C eek atio Weather To Seattle Star•n Trout Ste (") Lake

Bingen

olumbia 5 km

Figure 1.—Location of Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Area.

3 Access and Accommodations Mountain, are believed to have been active between 14,500 and 20,000 years ago, resulting in To reach the natural area from the Mount localized subglacial basalt and pillow palagonite Adams Ranger Station, Trout Lake parking lot, extrusions. Twin Buttes cinder cones, 3 km proceed left (west) on Highway 141 for 1 mile southwest of Steamboat Mountain, are thought (fig. 1). Turn right (north) on F.S. Road 88 and to be slightly younger than the Fraser glaciation continue for 13.5 miles to the junction of roads that occurred less than 12,000 years ago 88, 8851, and 8841 (known locally as the big (Schuster and others 1978). Much of the surface tire). Take road 8851 (straight ahead) and con- is mantled by aerially deposited volcanic ejecta, tinue for 4 miles to the junction of roads 8851 including the "J" tephra deposit of Mount St. and 8871. Turn right on 8871 and continue for Helens (Mullineaux and others 1975). A regional 0.25 mile to the junction of 8871 and 8871095. heat flow study documents that there is no large Turn right on the 8871095 road and continue for heat source in the vicinity of the RNA. Average 1.5 miles to the end of the road. The RNA is on heat gradients from a drill hole 2.5 km south of the right (south) side of the road. There is a sign the RNA ranged from 30.5 to 48.5 °C/km at the end of the road. The nearest commercial (Schuster and others 1978). accommodations are in Cougar or Carson, Soils are Podzols (Cryorthods), Brown Podzolics Washington; camping facilities are available at (Haplorthods), and azonal soils (Cryandepts) several campgrounds in the area. These are best developed on Pleistocene and Recent tephra located on a Gifford Pinchot National Forest deposits. Profiles are not well developed, and recreation map, available at the Mount Adams distinct A2 horizons are usually absent. Surface Ranger Station in Trout Lake or the Supervisors horizons are generally thin and of moderately Office in Vancouver, Washington. coarse to very coarse texture with 15 percent or more rock inclusions; they are rapidly drained. Subsurface horizons (B and C) are typically Environment moderately thick to very thick with a somewhat finer texture than on the surface, 25 to 55 per- The RNA includes the north, west, and south cent rocks, and very well drained. slopes of Steamboat Mountain, an elongated ridge running in a southeast-northwest direction (fig. 2). Elevation ranges from 1190 m at Tillicum Creek at the northwest corner of the RNA to 1654 m at the summit of the mountain. Slopes are steep, 30 to 60 percent, except at the northern, western, and southern margins of the mountain where gently sloping to undulating topography is common. There are cliffs and steep slopes on the north side of the summit ridge. The entire RNA is associated with volcanic rock types. Steamboat Mountain is underlain by a typical regional sequence of Tertiary (Miocene- Pliocene) extrusive and sedimentary rocks, including the Miocene Eagle Creek Formation and Yakima Basalts, the latter exposed at the summit (Schuster and others 1978). The mountain occupies an east-west-trending syncline at the northern extent of the Indian Heaven fissure zone, a basalt field dominated by numerous volcanic centers and at least 14 groups of lava Figure 2.—Southwestern slope of Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Area Big Mosquito Lake and meadows in flows. Three volcanic centers, marked by three foreground are not in the RNA. cinder cones on the west shoulder of Steamboat

4 Climate is wet and cold during the winter; for this type is 44.2 m2. Average tree height is snowpack varies from 200 to 300 cm. Summers 25 m for A. lasiocarpa, 32 m for A. amabilis. are relatively warm and dry. The nearest year- The Abies lasiocarpa unit may be successional round weather station is at the Mount Adams to Brockway and others (1983) Pacific Silver Ranger Station in Trout Lake. This is more than Fir/Big Huckleberry/Beargrass Association. 600 m lower than the RNA and probably not Their typical plant cover values do not include very applicable to the weather there. The closest nearly as much Abies lasiocarpa as occurs at weather station at Trout Creek (fig. 1) is operable Steamboat Mountain. Because stands on the only during the summer fire season. Average south slope are only 130 years old, given more maximum and minimum temperatures for June time the stands will probably have less A. to September 1972-78 were 20.8 °C (69.5 °F) and lasiocarpa and more A. amabilis. In the absence 7.4 °C (45.4 °F). Average rainfall for the same of catastrophic fire or disease, portions of this period was 3.25 cm (data on file at Mount Adams community could also develop into stands with Ranger Station, Trout Lake, Washington). sufficient Tsuga mertensiana to be classified as Brockway and others (1983) Mountain Hemlock/Big Huckleberry Association. Biota A moist forest mapped as PIEN in figure 3 sur- rounds small areas of open wetland on the lower Plant Communities south and west slopes. This forest is dominated by an Abies amabilis-Picea engelmannii-Tsuga The forests within Steamboat Mountain RNA mertensiana/Vaccinium membranaceum com- are Society of American Foresters (SAF) cover munity. This successional community supports types 205 Mountain Hemlock and 206 a floristically rich herbaceous understory in- Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir (Eyre 1980). cluding Clintonia uniflora, Cornus canadensis, Both fall within Kiichlers (1964) Fir-Hemlock Oxalis trilliifolia, Valeriana sitchensis, and Viola Forest (Abies-Tsuga) type. orbiculata (fig. 5). Both Vaccinium mem- The eight major vegetation mapping units in branaceum and V ovalifolium are frequent. This Steamboat Mountain RNA are shown in figure area can be classified as either the Pacific Silver 3. A checklist of the vascular plants and their Fir/Big Huckleberry/Queencup Beadlily Associa- habitats has been published for Steamboat tion or the Mountain Hemlock/Big Huckleberry Mountain RNA (Schuller and Frenkel 1981). It Association (Brockway and others 1983). The should be referred to for a more complete floristic abundance of Picea engelmannii gives this com- listing than is given here. munity its unique character compared with the Tree species in approximate order of abun- upland forests in the RNA. dance are Abies amabilis, A. lasiocarpa, Tsuga mertensiana, A. procera, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pin us monticola, Picea engelmannii, and T heterophylla. The first three comprise 90 percent or more of the stems, with A. amabilis the climax species throughout most of the area. The Abies lasiocarpa unit is found on the upper two-thirds of the southwest slope and on a portion of the northwest slope of Steamboat Mountain (ABLA in fig. 3). An A. lasiocarpa/Vac- cinium membranaceum/Xerophyllum tenax cover type community dominates much of this area (fig. 4). There is substantial cover of A. amabilis and Tsuga mertensiana; understory species are Rub us lasiococcus, Pyrola secunda, Anemone deltoidea, Bromus vulgaris, and Nothochelone nemorosa. The average basal area per hectare

5 f ff e f f e n 9 6 „ "Mr vs SS • s 32 •# 2 5 0• 4. 66)% .>%

8851 .■ 4 . i z st

88e. f •J4 R 8 E fffff f R 9 E st

Abies lasiocarpa—ABLA

Abies amabilis-Tsuga mertensiana—TSME mi N. I. mi Road

Abies amabilis-Tsuga mertensiana-Picea engelmannii—PI EN Research Natural Area Boundary Abies amabilis—ABAM .. • Permanent Transacts

Mixed conifer (Pseudotsuga Road menziesii-Abies procera-Tsuga 1885 Number mertensiana)—PSME 400 fr Meadows and marshes—WET 500m

Cliffs and scree slopes—ROCK

Clearcuts

Figure 3.—Major vegetation cover types in Steamboat Moun- tain Research Natural Area

Figure 4.—Abies lasiocarpa community with Vaccinium membranaceum in the understory, Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Area

Figure 5.—Abies amabilis-Picea engelmannii community with floristically rich herbaceous understory at Steamboat Moun- tain Research Natural Area

7 A band of forest, mapped as PSME in figure The cool north slopes of Steamboat Mountain 3, lies at the base of the southwest slope of RNA are dominated by an older Abies amabilis- Steamboat Mountain and represents a drier Tsuga mertensiana/Rhododendron albiflorum- cover type dominated by a Pseudotsuga Vaccinium plant community (TSME in fig. 3; fig. menziesii-Abies procera-A. amabilis/ Vaccinium 7). Rubus lasiococcus, R. pedatus, Clintonia membranaceum community. Quite variable in uniflora, and Smilacina stellata are commonly composition, this type includes Vaccinium mem- found in the herb layer (fig. 5). Basal area in branaceum as the most common shrub, but these stands, dominated by A. amabilis and Pachistima myrsinites, V ovalifolium, and Men- Tsuga heterophylla, averages 52 m2/ha and ziesia ferruginea are also present. The her- ranges from 25.1 m2/ha at midslope to 87.7 m2/ha baceous understory can become well developed, toward the bottom near the lake (fig. 8). Basal and it usually includes Rubus lasiococcus, Clin- area for dead trees ranged from 3.5 m2/ha at tonia uniflora, Xerophyllum tenax, Viola or- midslope to 15.5 m2/ha at the bottom. Tree biculata, Trillium ovatum, and Hieracium heights average 32 m for A. amabilis and 30 m albiflorum. Basal areas are greater than those for T mertensiana. This forest type belongs to of the adjacent mapped cover types because of Brockway and others (1983) Pacific Silver the occurrence of P menziesii. Basal area Fir/Cascade Azalea Association, found primari- averages 52.2 m2/ha and ranges from 43.8 to 60.3 ly on gentle north slopes averaging 1290 m in m2/ha. This forest type may be successional to elevation. Deep snowpacks, a short growing Brockway and others (1983) climax Pacific season, frequent frost and cold temperatures, Silver Fir/Vanilla Leaf-Queencup Beadlily and moist soils are common on these sites. Association. Stands in this association typical- Closely related to the previous type is the ly occupy southerly aspects and have moderate- relatively homogeneous Abies amabilis/Vac- ly deep and well-drained soils (fig. 6). cinium membranaceum forest cover type, with the understory dominated by Vaccinium membranaceum (ABAM in fig. 3). Brockway and others (1983) classification suggests the Pacific Silver Fir/Big Huckleberry/Queencup Beadlily Association. Although this ABAM type generally occurs in environmentally moderate areas, it is also found on frost-prone, high-elevation sites similar to those at Steamboat Mountain. Cliffs, rocky areas, and scree slopes occupy a strip along the ridge and north slope of the summit (ROCK in fig. 3). This area provides a vari- ety of microhabitats that account for much of the floristic richness, especially where soil has accumulated (figs. 9 and 10). Some species fre- quently found are Cryptogramma crispa, Lomatium martindalei, Luetkea pectinata, Mertensia paniculata, Phyllodoce empetriformis, Phlox diffusa, Pinus albicaulis, Sedum divergens, and many members of the Gramineae.

8 Figure 6.—Pseudotsuga menziesii stand at toeslope, Steam- boat Mountain Research Natural Area.

Figure 7.—Abies amabilis-Tsuga mertensiana community with understory of Rhododendron albiflorum, Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Area.

Aquatic Habitats The aquatic habitats within Steamboat Moun- tain RNA are typical of the subalpine forest zone in the high Cascades. Four wetlands, comprising 19 ha, are in the southwest and northeast portions of the RNA (WET in fig. 3). One of these includes a small lake due north of the summit. The area is commonly used by elk. The other three wetlands are large bogs or montane mires. They are the most floristically rich vegetation types within Steamboat Mountain RNA, comprising 36 percent of the vascular plant species list (Schuller and Frenkel 1981). The most western mire is drained by Tillicum Creek, and the two smaller mires to the south are drained by Mosquito Creek. Based on transect analysis by W.H. Moir (data on file at Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Research Work Unit 4151, Corvallis, Oregon), the mires exhibit concentric zonation with a somewhat drier outer ring dominated by the shrubs Spiraea densiflora, Menziesia ferruginea, and Salix phylicifolia. Carex aquatilis is the common understory plant in the outer ring (fig. 11). Form- ing an inner belt is the Salix pedicellaris community including considerable cover of Vac- cinium occidentale, Carex aquatilis, C. luzulina, Figure 10.—Closeup of talus slope on north side, Steamboat Aster occidentalis, and Dodecatheon jeffreyi. In Mountain Research Natural Area the center, the wettest community contains much Sphagnum spp. and is dominated by V oc- cidental C. sitchensis, Dodecatheon jeffreyi, and Agrostis thurberiana. These montane mire communities resemble communities described by Frenkel and others (1986). The Steamboat Mountain mires represent typical mires of the southern Washington Cascade Range and offer outstanding opportunities for research (fig. 12). In the northwest corner of the RNA a small stand of shrub-dominated vegetation in the riparian zone of Tillicum Creek marks a transi- tion between the herb-dominated wetlands and the cool, moist Abies amabilis-Tsuga mertensiana-Picea engelmannii forest. This tangled riparian shrub assemblage includes as promi- nent species Alnus sinuata, Spiraea douglasii, Salix phylicifolia, and Viburnum edule.

11 Fauna A tentative list of amphibians and reptiles is in table 2 Dominant species of the herpetofmina are: Dicamptodon copei, Ambystoma gracile, Ascaphus truei, Bufo boreas, Hyla regilla, Rana cascadae, and Thamnophis sirtalis. Large breeding populations of R. cascadae occur in the two wet meadows and in the small lake; A. gracile breeds in considerable numbers in the small lake. Both neotenic and transformed in- dividuals of A. gracile were noted in the late 1960s. An exceptional opportunity exists here to study isolated populations of several amphi- bian species. The local avifauna is typical for this portion of the Cascade Range. Especially common on the site are: ravens, cedar waxwings, varied thrushes, golden-crowned kinglets, chestnut- backed chickadees, winter wrens, pine siskins, red-breasted nuthatches, and red crossbills (late August census). Mammals that are likely to occur on the Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Area are listed in table 3. The area provides especially Figure 11.—Outer ring of montane mire dominated by Men- good habitat for the following species, all of ziesia ferruginea and Carex aquatilis, Steamboat Mountain which are known to utilize the area: black bear, Research Natural Area. marten, elk, black-tailed deer, hoary marmot, and pika. The nonforested habitats on the natural area serve to enrich the mammalian fauna. The wet meadows and meadow-lake system provide excellent habitat for both the Richardsons and heather voles, and the talus fields for the pika, hoary marmot, and bushy- tailed woodrat. Table 4 is a list of the beetles identified for the area.

Figure 12.—Transect across a montane mire at Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Area, showing a Vac- cinium/Carex community, with shrub community and Picea engelmannii in the background.

12 Research Additional research could focus on: (1) actual and potential forest and wetland productivity; During 1972 a series of permanent plots and (2) influence of human activities on environmen- transects were established within the natural tal quality (serving as an undisturbed control area to provide baseline data on vegetation com- area); (3) behavior and influence of various forest position and to allow for measurement of pathogens, especially balsam woolly aphid changes in composition, structure, and stand (Adelges piceae); (4) relationship of fauna to boundaries. Included are (1) a permanent varied vegetation types; (5) aquatic biology of an transect, with plots every 100 m, established undisturbed subalpine lake; (6) holocene vegeta- starting from the base of the south slope to the tion study employing stratigraphic assemblages ridgetop, and down the north side to just east of of pollen together with datable tephra layers the small lake (fig. 3); (2) a series of plots in other derived from sequences of volcanic eruptions; (7) selected forest stands; and (3) a 200-m transect recovery of vegetation from clearcut areas along across a forest-bog ecotone. These were estab- the north boundary in comparison with adjacent lished cooperatively by the USDA Forest Service intact Abies amabilis forests; and (8) comparison and the Coniferous Forest Biome, International of naturally regenerated and planted clearcuts Biological Program. at high elevations. In nineteen 1000-m plots, all trees larger than 5 cm in diameter at breast height (d.b.h.) were tagged, measured for d.b.h., and vigor coded; and History of Disturbance a sample of tree heights was taken. Data for basal area and tree heights referred to in The only known major natural disturbance in previous sections come from these plots. the RNA has been fire. Tree ages differ on each Plots were remeasured in 1984. At that time side of the mountain. On the south side, tree ages there were 50 dead trees, and 43 had grown into at breast height range from 97 years for a Picea the 5-cm-d.b.h. category. The annual mortality engelmannii to 151 years for an Abies lasiocarpa. rate is 0.825 percent which is relatively low for Average age on the south side is 131 years. Stand forests in the western Cascades. Sixty-six percent ages on the north side are considerably older, in- of the mortality was Abies lasiocarpa, all on the dicating a longer time since fire. The oldest and south slope. Most of this mortality was at- the youngest trees, both A. amabilis, are 396 and tributed to natural tree senescence. Other causes 193 years old; the average age is 256 years. of mortality were suppression, windsnap, and Two small (18 ha) clearcuts are located along snow or ice breakage. the north margin. Both units were cut in 1971 The RNA has also been used for studies of an- (fig. 3). Unit 5 was broadcast burned in 1974 and nual cone production, seeding habits, and seed planted that fall with Abies procera. Subsequent quality of Abies amabilis, A. lasiocarpa, Picea plantings in 1974 and 1979 included A. procera, engelmannii, and Tsuga mertensiana (Franklin Picea engelmannii, Pinus monticola, and A. 1968, Franklin and others 1974). The data as of lasiocarpa. The stand is fully stocked and in- 1973 (part of a set collected throughout the cludes A. amabilis and Pseudotsuga menziesii as Cascades) show that upper-slope species produce well. The Pseudotsuga is doing poorly at this medium to heavy cone crops at 2- to 3-year in- elevation. Unit 6 was well stocked with young tervals at most locations. The 1968 crop was the trees after logging so it was not broadcast heaviest observed. Annual cone counts are still burned. The stand is fully stocked with Abies being made. Other studies include subalpine lasiocarpa, A. procera, A. amabilis, Tsuga community types in the high Cascades and their mertensiana, and T heterophylla. relation to environmental features (Franklin 1966, Minore and Dubrasich 1978) and successional relationships in subalpine forests (Franklin 1966, Franklin and Mitchell 1967).

13 Maps and Aerial Photographs Metric and English Equivalents

Special maps applicable to Steamboat Moun- 1 centimeter (cm) = 0.4 inch tain RNA are: Topographic-7-1/2 Steamboat 1 meter (m) = 3.3 feet Mountain (1970), Sleeping Beauty (1970), Lone 1 kilometer (km) = 0.6 mile Butte (1965), and Quartz Creek Butte (1965); 1 hectare (ha) = 2.5 acres Washington quadrangles, scale 1:24,000, issued by the U.S. Geological Survey; and Geologic— Geologic Map of Washington, scale 1:500,000 (Huntting and others 1961). The District Ranger (Mount Adams Ranger District) or Forest Super- visor (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Vancouver, Washington) can provide information on the most recent aerial photographs and forest type maps for the area.

Table 1—Partial list of plants found in Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Area/ Plant Scientific name Common name

Trees Abies amabilis (Dougl.) Forbes Pacific silver fir Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. Subalpine fir Abies procera Rehder Noble fir Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm. Engelmann spruce Pinus albicaulis Engelm. Whitebark pine Pinus monticola Dougl. ex D. Don Western white pine Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco Douglas-fir Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. Western hemlock Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carr. Mountain hemlock

Shrubs Alnus sinuata (Regel) Rhydb. Sitka alder Menziesia ferruginea Smith Fools huckleberry Pachistima myrsinites (Pursh) Raf. Mountain-box Phyllodoce empetriformis (SW.) D. Don Red mountainheather Rhododendron albiflorum Hook. Cascades azalea Rubus lasiococcus Gray Dwarf blackberry Rubus pedatus J.E. Smith Strawberry-leaf blackberry Salix pedicellaris Pursh. Bog willow Salix phylicifolia L. Tea-leaved willow Spiraea densiflora Nutt. Subalpine spirea Spiraea douglasii Hook. Douglas spirea Vaccinium membranaceum Dougl. Big huckleberry Vaccinium occidentale Gray Westernbog huckleberry Vaccinium ovalifolium Smith Early blueberry Valeriana sitchensis Bong. Sitka valerian Viburnum edule (Michx.) Raf. Moosewood viburnum

See footnotes at end of table.

14 Table 1—Partial list of plants found in Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Area-J (continued) Plant Scientific name Common name

Herbs Achlys triphylla (Smith) DC. Deerfoot vanillaleaf Agrostis thurberiana Hitchc. Thurber bentgrass Anemone deltoidea Hook. Threeleaf anemone Aster occidentalis (Nutt.) T. G. Western mountain aster Bromus vulgaris (Hook.) Shear Columbia brome Carex L. Sedge Carex aquatilis Wahl. Water sedge Carex luzulina Olney Woodrush sedge Carex rostrata Stokes Beaked sedge Carex sitchensis Prescott Sitka sedge Clintonia uniflora (Schult.) Kunth Queencup beadlily Corn us canadensis L. Bunchberry Cryptogramma crispa (L.) R. Br. Rock-brake Dodecatheon jeffreyi van Houtte Jeffreys shooting star Eleocharis palustris (L.) R. S. Common spike-rush Hieracium albiflorum Hook. White-flowered hawkweed Lomatium martindalei Coult. Rose Martindales lomatium Luetkea pectinata (Pursh) Kuntze Luetkea Mertensia paniculata (Ait.) G. Don Smooth panicle bluebells Nothochelone nemorosa (Dougl.) Straw Woodland beard-tongue Oxalis trilliifolia Hook. Great oxalis Phlox diffusa (Benth.) Spreading phlox Pyrola secunda L. One-sided wintergreen Sedum divergens Wats. Spreading stonecrop Smilacina stellata (L.) Desf. Starry solomonplume Tofieldia glutinosa (Michx.) Pers. Sticky tolfieldia Trillium ovatum Pursh White trillium Viola orbiculata Geyer Round-leaved viola Xerophyllum tenax (Pursh) Nutt. Beargrass Moss Sphagnum spp. L.1/ Sphagnum

1/Nomenclature follows Hitchcock and Cronquist (1976).

1/Nomenclature follows Conrad and Redfearn (1979).

15 Table 2—Tentative list of amphibians and reptiles for Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Areal/ Order Scientific name Common name

Caudata Ambystoma gracile Northwestern salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum Long-toed salamander Dicamptodon copei Copes salamander Dicamptodon ensatus Pacific giant salamander Ensatina eschscholtzi Ensatina Taricha granulosa Rough-skinned newt Anura Ascaphus truei Tailed frog Bufo boreas Western toad Hyla regilla Pacific treefrog Rana cascadae Cascades frog

Squamata: Lizards Gerrhontus coeruleus Northern alligator lizard

Snakes Charina bottae Rubber boa Thamnophis ordinoides Northwestern garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis Common garter snake

Known to occur in the area. /Nomenclature follows Stebbins (1966). Information supplied by Chris Maser, wildlife biologist, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Corvallis, Oregon).

Table 3—Tentative list of mammals for Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Areal/ Order Scientific name Common name

Insectivora Neurotrichus gibbsi Shrew-mole Scapanus orarius Coast mole Sorex bendirii Marsh shrew Sorex obscurus Dusky shrew Sorex palustris Northern water shrew Sorex trowbridgeii Trowbridge shrew Sorex vagrans Wandering shrew

Chiroptera Eptesicus fuscus Big brown bat Lasionycteris noctivagrans Silver-haired bat Lasiurus cinereus Hoary bat Myotis californicus California myotis Myotis evotis Long-eared myotis Myotis lucifugus Little brown myotis Myotis volans Long-legged myotis Myotis yumanensis Yuma myotis Plecotus townsendi Townsend big-eared bat

See footnote at end of table.

16 Table 3—Tentative list of mammals for Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Area-I (continued) Order Scientific name Common name

Lagomorpha Lepus americanus Snowshoe hare Ochotona princeps Pika

Rodentia Aplodontia rufa Mountain beaver Castor canadensis Beaver Clethrionomys gapperi Gapper red-backed vole Erethizon dorsatum Porcupine Eutamias townsendi Townsend chipmunk Glaucomys sabrinus Northern flying squirrel Marmota caligata Hoary marmot Microtus longicaudus Long-tailed vole Microtus oregoni Oregon vole Microtus richardsoni Richardsons vole Neotoma cinerea Bushy-tailed woodrat Peromyscus maniculatus Deer mouse Phenacomys intermedius Heather vole Spermophilus saturatus Cascade mantled ground squirrel Tamiasciurus douglasi Chickaree Thomomys talpoides Northern pocket gopher Zap us princeps Pacific jumping mouse

Carnivora Canis latrans Coyote Felis concolor Mountain lion or cougar Lynx rufus Bobcat Martes americana Marten Mustela erminea Short-tailed weasel or ermine Mustela frenata Long-tailed weasel Mustela vison Mink Spilogale putorius Spotted skunk Ursus americanus Black bear

Artiodactyla Cervus canadensis Elk or wapiti Odocoileus h. columbianus Black-tailed deer

Nomenclature follows Burt and Grossenheider (1976). Mammals listed are believed to use the area at some time of year. Information supplied by Chris Maser, wildlife biologist, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon).

17 Table 4—Beetles collected in Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Areal/ Order Scientific name Coleoptera Acunthocinus obliquus Anoploclera chrysocoma Buprestis rusticorum Chrysobothris cavinipennis Chrysobothris monticola Melanophila drummondi Monochamus oregonensis Pachyta armata Scaphinotus a. angusticollis

Beetles collected and identified by Chris Maser, wildlife biologist, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon). Specimens compared with Oregon State University, Department of Entomology, insect collection.

Literature Cited Franklin, Jerry F.; Carkin, Richard; Booth, Jack. Seeding habits of upper-slope tree Brockway, Dale G.; Topik, Christopher; species: 1. A 12-year record of cone production. Hemstrom, Miles A.; Emmingham, William H. Res. Note PNW-213. Portland, OR: U.S. Plant association and management guide for Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, the Pacific silver fir zone. R6-Ecol-130a. Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experi- Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, ment Station; 1974. 11 p. Forest Service; 1983. 123 p. Franklin, Jerry F.; Mitchell, Russel G. Suc- Burt, William H.; Grossenheider, Richard P. cessional status of subalpine fir in the Cascade A field guide to the mammals. Boston: Range. Res. Pap. PNW-46. Portland, OR: U.S. Houghton Mifflin Company; 1976. 289 p. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experi- Conrad, Henry S.; Redfearn, Paul L., Jr. How ment Station; 1967. 16 p. to know the mosses and liverworts. Dubuque, IA: Wm. C. Brown Company Publishers; 1979. Franklin, Jerry Forest. Vegetation and soils 302 p. in the subalpine forests of the southern Washington Cascades. Pullman, WA: Eyre, F.H., ed. Forest cover types of the United Washington State University; 1966. 132 p. States and Canada. Washington, DC: Society Ph. D. thesis. of American Foresters; 1980. 148 p. Frenkel, Robert E.; Moir, William H.; Franklin, Jerry F. Cone production by upper- Christy, John A. Vegetation of Torrey Lake slope conifers. Res. Pap. PNW-60. Portland, OR: mire, central Cascades, Oregon. Madrorio. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Serv- 33(1):24-39. 1986. ice, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Ex- periment Station; 1968. 21 p. Hitchcock, C. Leo; Cronquist, Arthur. Flora of the Pacific Northwest: an illustrated manual. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press; 1976. 730 p.

18 Huntting, Marshall T.; Bennett, W.A.G.; Liv- ingston, Vaughan E., Jr.; Moen, Wayne S. Geologic map of Washington. Olympia, WA: Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mines and Geology; 1961. 1:500,000.

Kiichler, A.W. Manual to accompany the map of potential natural vegetation of the conter- minous United States. Am. Geogr. Soc. Spec. Publ. 36. New York: American Geographical Society; 1964. [Unpaged].

Minore, Don; Dubrasich, Michael E. Big huckleberry abundance as related to environment and associated vegetation near Mount Adams, Washington. Res. Note PNW-322. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station; 1978. 8 p.

Mullineaux, D.R.; Hyde, J.H.; Rubin, Meyer. Widespread late glacial and post glacial tephra deposits from Mt. St. Helens volcano, Washington. U.S. Geological Survey Journal of Research. 3(3): 329-335; 1975.

Schuller, S. Reid; Frenkel, Robert E. Checklist of vascular plants of Steamboat Mountain Research Natural Area. Res. Note PNW-375. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station; 1981. 20 p.

Schuster, J. Eric; Blackwell, David D.; Ham- mond, Paul E.; Huntting, Marshall T. Heat flow studies in the Steamboat Mountain- Lemei Rock area, Skamania County, Washington. Inf. Circ. 62. Olympia, WA: Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources, Department of Natural Resources; 1978. 56 p.

Stebbins, Robert C. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company; 1966. 279 p. The Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the principle of multiple use management of the Nations forest resources for sustained yields of wood, water, forage, wildlife, and recreation. Through forestry research, cooperation with the States and private forest owners, and management of the National Forests and National Grasslands, it strives — as directed by Congress — to provide increasingly greater service to a growing Nation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants for all Department programs will be given equal consideration without regard to age, race, color, sex, religion, or national origin.

Pacific Northwest Research Station 319 S.W. Pine St. P.O. Box 3890 Portland, Oregon 97208